They were colonies(including your hong kong we took from you when we defeated you). So sooner or later we woud have given then back all their independence. You cant hold people as your slaves forever , can you?
We just anticipated and planned in long term(like we always do) reason we gave these countries their independence back after centuries of rule peacefully.
Now ask yourself how a "small" isolated european island far away the other side of the ocean could come all the way to Asia and defeat a 'big power' like China in its own land/soil and seize its territory(Well we being gentlemen "leased" it instead.
). Lol.
So if anything you should be questioning your own greatness more.
Even today we still military bases overseas and many other "overseas territories" scattered all over the world. so much so that even for an informed member like me i dont know all of them lool
So dont worry about us,we doing just fine for our "size".
anyway we are going off topic. Stick to topic.